Problem Statement: It was found that tomato plants from Mr.

Brown’s farm appeared healthier

and more luxuriant than those on Mr. Reid’s farm which appeared feeble, stunted and not doing
as well. Plan and design an activity to determine the possible reasons for the difference observed.

Hypothesis: Adding nitrates and phosphates to the soil will ensure maximum growth of the
tomato seedlings and make them appear healthier and more luxuriant.

Aim: To determine the effect of nitrates and phosphates on the length and appearance of tomato
seedlings.

Apparatus/materials: Marker Tomato seedlings

Ruler Soil

Phosphates Paper

Nitrates Water

Measuring cylinder

Procedure:

1. Use four small pots filled with soil to place each tomato seedling in.

2. Use the ruler to measure each seedling and record this reading.

3. Measure 50 cm3 of water and pour into each pot

4. Place 10 cm3 of nitrates in the first pot and label it “nitrates”.

5. Place 10 cm3 of phosphates in the second pot and label it “phosphates”.

6. Place 10 cm3 of phosphates and 10 cm3 of nitrates in the third pot and label it
“phosphates and nitrates”.

7. Leave the fourth pot as it is and label it “control”.

8. Water the plants everyday using 50cm3 of water each and leave them for 7 days.

9. On the 7th day, measure the length of each plant and record the appearance of each plant.

10. Tabulate all observations.

Variables:

Controlled variable: the same type of tomato seedlings, the same type of soil, the volume of
water added, the length of the experiment

Manipulated variable: the volume of the nitrates and phosphates added

Responding variable: the length and appearance of the tomato seedlings

Data Collection: Table showing the tomato seedlings under different conditions and their results
on the first and seventh day

Length and appearance

Tomato seedlings Day 1 Day 7
Nitrates
Phosphates
Nitrates and Phosphate
Control

Expected Results:

If the tomato seedling with the nitrates and phosphates has the longest length, appears the healthiest
and most luxuriant, the hypothesis will be accepted. This is because it implies that both phosphates and
nitrates are needed for maximum plant growth. Thus, using these compounds will make Mr. Reid’s farm
appear healthy and luxuriant like Mr. Brown’s farm. However, if the tomato seedling with the nitrates
and phosphates does not have the longest length and appear the healthiest, the hypothesis will be
rejected as that implies that the tomato seedlings do not require both nitrates and phosphates for
maximum growth.

Sources of error:

The changes will be slight as the experiment was done in a limited time period.

A parallax error may occur when reading the measurement from the measuring cylinder.